UAE to cut RAK-Dubai travel time nearly in half with new lanes and bridges on Emirates Road

The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MoEI) has announced the start of a major upgrade to Emirates Road, aimed at reducing travel time by up to 45% for commuters traveling between Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain, Sharjah, and Dubai.

Road expansion and bridge development

The Dh750 million project, set for completion in two years, involves expanding Emirates Road from three to five lanes in each direction over a 25 km stretch from Al Badee Interchange to Umm Al Quwain. This expansion will increase traffic capacity to approximately 9,000 vehicles per hour, representing a 65% rise in volume.

The project also includes the development of Interchange No. 7 with six directional bridges spanning a total of 12.6 km, capable of handling up to 13,200 vehicles per hour. Additionally, 3.4 km of service roads will be built on both sides of the main highway.

Benefits for commuters and trade

MoEI noted that the upgrade will ease congestion on one of the busiest federal roads, improve traffic flow, and help reduce vehicle emissions caused by traffic jams. The project is also expected to support trade and the efficient movement of goods between the Emirates.

Youssef Abdullah, Assistant Undersecretary for the Federal Infrastructure Projects Sector at MoEI, said:

“The Emirates Road enhancement and upgrade project is not merely an expansion of a vital road, but a qualitative leap towards building a more advanced, efficient, and sustainable federal road network capable of meeting the demands of rapid population and economic growth.”